Supplement:
Cement Tile – A Rock Solid Alternative
Cement tile these days is moving. It is shifting away from the standard, functional floor and wall covering we are all used to seeing, and towards becoming an art form in its own right. Out are the endless seas of tooth-white square tile of the past, and in its place have come pieces so striking that they have become a focal point all on their own. Construction Review brings you the new trends in cement tile and a D.I.Y guide through for homeowners.
Ask most people what comes to mind when they think of cement or concrete tiles, and they will probably name the chunky, grey-toned outdoor pavers typical of sidewalks and pathways. But developments in the last ten years have seen cement-based products expanding into areas traditionally dominated by clay, slate, ceramic, porcelain, sandstone and the like. Cement tiles today range from roof tiles to coloured, stone-look pavers and decorative interior wall and floor tiles. These tiles are widely used in Africa, Latin America and Europe.
Intrepid do-it-yourself homeowners may want to tackle an installation project themselves. There are a number of excellent books on the market that outline the step-by-step details — almost any how-to book with photos will do. Their durability makes them perfect for high-traffic areas such as kitchens and entrances – where they rarely require replacing. For interior use the application of a sealant renders them impervious to stains and moisture absorption. Always buy an extra 10 percent to 20 percent more tile than your project requires in case of breakage or future wear.
Seldom perfectly square or flat, cement tiles are ideal for creating a natural, tumbled stone look (in fact, they are often referred to as ‘cast stone’). They are also ideal for patterned tile layout, ranging from a simple combination of differently-coloured cement tiles, to cutouts and embeds, imprinted patterns, three-dimensional designs, and the brilliant colours and intricate patterns of encaustic tiles. Stone-look cement tiles and rivens are another popular trend for cladding feature walls and adding texture and depth to a room.
Living Colour
Gone are the pale, genteel palettes of the ‘90s. Today’s homeowners want colour — rich, vibrant colour. Homeowners want a little bit of cheer when they arrive home. Colours are still inspired by nature, certainly, but they are not necessarily limited to the pastel celery and wheat colours that first come to mind.
Colours like Daffodil yellow, wetlands green, and leek green are in trend this year. Last years’ cobalt blue is still a popular choice, but recent installations have seen it paired with shades such as lemon yellow and terra cotta for a little visual interest. Gleaming metallics — glazes that bring the punch of metals such as copper and pewter— are becoming popular too.
Timeless Shapes
Keeping in mind that a room’s tile is made to last decades, how can a homeowner choose colours and patterns that will not look dated in a few years? The trick is to take a look back at history. Designs that have stood the test of time are boldly coloured geometrics like cobalt diamonds and black hexagons, and simple shapes like the classic square. Another time-honoured choice is the rectangular cement tile, still going strong after its surge in popularity in the late 1800s.
Sought after right now are organic images: frogs, roosters, salmon, starfish, and garden vegetables, for example. They are a little trendier than the classic geometrics, so they are often best in smaller, more focused areas, like a single kitchen backsplash. A tile-inlaid bathroom mirror surround or a rectangular kitchen grouping is a good place for the trendy stuff, especially for the faint of heart. If the installer plans ahead, the entire piece can be mounted like a picture frame and easily replaced when styles change.
Another trick to updating your home’s cement tile work, without inadvertently dating it, is to take a cue from your home’s own unique architectural style. A typical stump town bungalow gains a real boost in character with the addition of a grouping of rich, historically appropriate Craftsman-style pieces along a kitchen oven hood or fireplace mantel.
Hands-On Pieces
As in computers these days, the biggest trend in tile is 3-D. Look for tactile appeal in high-relief cement tile pieces like round, rough logs, lumbering out almost two inches from the wall’s flat surface, or life-size dragonflies mounted on crackly, glossy squares. Looking for new window moldings? Replace the old ones with rich, durable, deep-etched cement tile pieces.
In fact, cement tile has really returned to its functional roots. It was originally favoured by the ancients for its durability, and that has not changed. But what about cement tile that holds your bath towel — or the family’s array of toothbrushes? There is even an elegant, cozy little inset to hold a roll of bath tissue that looks gorgeous laid into a wall of glazed cement tile.
Why is Cement Tile so Trendy?
For those wishing to install hard surface flooring, cement tile offers one of the most durable options. It is especially suitable for high traffic areas, such as entrances and in kitchens and other high activity rooms. It is also one of the easiest to clean, especially where heavy soiling is involved so again, it is popular in doorways and other entrances where outdoor dirt and moisture is likely to enter the house. Similarly for kitchens and bathrooms, its stain-resistant, waterproof surface means easy care, cleaning and maintenance.
Furthermore, cement tile is inherently attractive with a natural, hand-crafted look that suits a variety of decor themes and offers the possibility of limitless design patterns with differing combinations of size, texture and colour.
Installation do’s and don’ts
- When laying cement tile on a new concrete slab, allow three to four weeks for the slab to cure completely before applying the tiles.
- Ensure that all concrete surfaces to be tiled are clean and free of all surface contaminants.
- If a concrete slab is not cast first, you can bed cement tiles into a semi-dry cement screed, fixing each tile with a cement slurry.
- If using tile adhesive, ensure the underside of each tile is completely covered. You will require approximately one bag of adhesive for every 1.5m2.
- Never tile in very hot conditions, as the adhesive may dry too quickly and fail to bond with the underside of the tile.
- Since cement tile thicknesses vary, always level from the top of the tile, not the base.
- Never simply tile over structural, expansion or cold joints – these must be extended through the various layers to the surface.
Finishing cement tiles
Cement tiles weather and wear a lot like natural stone, and are subject to some variance in colour. What may at first seem to be a loss of colour is usually efflorescence, a powdery, white stain originating from the substrate. This usually goes away naturally after a short while, or it can be washed off using a specialist cement tile cleaner. Never use acidic cleaners to clean grout or efflorescence off unprotected cement tiles.
The surface colour and texture of a cement tile can be protected by either sealing it with a surface sealer (to protect the tile from the top), or applying a penetrating sealer to bond and strengthen the tile. Outdoor cement tiles can be left untreated, allowing them to weather naturally.
If you wish to stain your new or existing unsealed concrete tiles, try Coolcrete Concrete Stain, a penetrating stain produced by South African company Tile & Floor Care. The stain penetrates into the concrete and a chemical reaction takes place that permanently changes the colour of the concrete. The colours achievable are variants of three basic colour groups: black, brown and blue/green.
Cementing the future
With ongoing research and development rendering cement tiles as good as, if not better than, their traditional tiling equivalents, cement tiles are a safe bet for a durable, good-looking and cost-effective wall/floor/roof covering. And if their performance thus far is anything to go by, they’ll soon be the default option, especially for outdoor use.
List of Contributors
TILE & DÉCOR HOUSE
Northend Building
25 Velddrif Road
VREDENBURG
7380
P O Box 1051 VREDENBURG 7380
Tel: 022 713 4203
Fax: 022 713 4241
Cell: 083 2364 922
Email: gailtile@lantic.net
MARLEY TILES
Corner South View (Old Olifantsfontein) & Industry Roads
Olifantsfontein
Gauteng
Tel: 011 316 2121
Fax: 011 316 4138
Email: olifants@marley.co.za
REVELSTONE TILES
Adam House
Orion Road
Lansdowne
Cape Town
P.O. Box 30314
Tokai
7966
Tel: (021) 761 9739
Fax: (021) 761 9734
Email: info@revelstone.co.za
or sales@revelstone.co.za
www.revelstone.co.za
STONE CHOICE
6 Mirrorball Street
George Industria
George
6536
Tel: 027 44 873 2272
Fax: 027 44 873 6284
Email: cobus@stonechoice.co.za
MONIER ROOFING
Barrage Road
Vereeniging
Tel: 016 430 8000
Fax: 016 430 8071
info.sa@monier.com
TOPTILES
101 Diamond Street Klerksoord, Rosslyn Pretoria
Tel: (+27) 12 542 6049
Fax: 086 665 6071
Email: info@toptiles.co.za
www.toptiles.co.za
TILE AND FLOOR CARE
Postnet Suite 74
Private Bag X10020
Edenvale
1610
Tel: 011 8226901
Fax: 011 8225241 / 011 8226902
Email: ashleyg@iafrica.com
sales@tfc.co.za
www.tilecare.co.za
LACOTTA TILES
105 Main Road
Bergvliet
7945
Tel: 021 712 0894
Fax: 021 712 0895
Email: lacotta@mweb.co.za
STONE CREATIONS
A Division of Cape Concrete Works (Pty) Ltd
Wimbledon Road
Blackheath 7580
Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: +27 21 905 9415
Fax: 086 509 3911
Email: admin@cemstone.co.za
www.stonecreations.co.za
MONIER TILES
Head Office
Building No 2
Meersig Office Park
12 Constantia Boulevard
Constantia
Tel: 011 222 7300
Fax: 011 222 7370
www.monier.co.za
EAGLE ROOF TILES
Cape Town Sales Office
7 Brentford Road
Parow
P.O. Box 1447, Dassenberg, 7350
Tel: 021 931 3477
Fax: 021 931 9056
Email: gill@eaglerooftiles.co.za
Gill Ainsbury
Cell: 083 275 9075
Villa Lagoon Tile
Email info@VillaLagoonTile.com
Villa Lagoon Tile
attn: Lundy Wilder
15342 Fort Morgan Road
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Rick Chatellier
Vice president and general manager
Phone: (954) 972-7400
Fax: (954) 972-7433
1590 N. Andrews Avenue Extension
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
rick@hansonroof.com
